Farm Chicken question.

[Cardinal]

I got my last load of chicks going on 3 years ago. I only got 2 hatch babies last year. One was a rooster who hatched in my hand and he is very gentle.
After years of losing birds to varmints, this is what I did. I bought a 10x10 dog kernel, about 8 feet tall I think. I had old fencing I cut and put around the bottom of the kennel. Then used old fencing and snow fence around all that and over the top.
To make a house, I had an old picnic table that was broke up and some fence posts.
I dug 4 holes and set the posts in a rectangle. Then nailed the old picnic table boards over that. Old barn wood from the barn made a slant roof. We picked up some long plastic panels and nailed that all over the wood. Snow fence nailed around open small spots near roof. Old screen door, and board nailed for roost. Some old shop boxes for boxes.
The chickens watched us with excitement lol. The day we were done and let them in there (it's built into the kennel) was quite a party. They love it.
I took old wool junk blankets and wired them to sunny side inside. This keeps out sun and snow. They seem to really love their house and stay pretty comfy. They have the kennel yard and I let them out few hours at night.
Cheap and maybe not the best but it has worked good for 3 years.

Did damn near the same thing. Got a dog kennel and put two dog houses (large size) inside. Filled with bedding. They sleep inside the dog houses at night. I let them out for a couple of hours in the evening, while I keep watch.
I have since had to enlarge the original dog kennel.

 

[sierra don]

If you leave the bark on does it cause the poles to rot?

How deep did you plant the poles?

Post hole digger?

Thanks

For sure you want to remove the bark, the bark holds the moisture into the wood. I use a draw knife to remove the bark.

The corner posts are cemented into the holes, they are 11 feet long with 2 feet of them buried. The logs that were not corners are just buried in the holes, no concrete. I left the corners at full length and cut all the others down to 6 feet long above the hole.

I wist I had soaked the ends of those poles in oil. This will help extend the live of the logs even longer, my buddy says to soak the ends for a week or two before placing in the hole.

I used a post hole digger and a long, strong piece of pointy metal to break loose all the rocks down there.

The reason I left the corner poles so long was so that I could hang shade clothes from the to help keep the chicks cool. This one is only 30% and 20 feet long, gonna upgrade next year to a 70% and 30 feet long.

 

[Coulter]

For sure you want to remove the bark, the bark holds the moisture into the wood. I use a draw knife to remove the bark.

The corner posts are cemented into the holes, they are 11 feet long with 2 feet of them buried. The logs that were not corners are just buried in the holes, no concrete. I left the corners at full length and cut all the others down to 6 feet long above the hole.

I wist I had soaked the ends of those poles in oil. This will help extend the live of the logs even longer, my buddy says to soak the ends for a week or two before placing in the hole.

I used a post hole digger and a long, strong piece of pointy metal to break loose all the rocks down there.

The reason I left the corner poles so long was so that I could hang shade clothes from the to help keep the chicks cool. This one is only 30% and 20 feet long, gonna upgrade next year to a 70% and 30 feet long.

View attachment 276766

Thank you

I ordered a draw knife 3 days ago - it should be here sometime today.

I have been using t posts and after seeing your pictures - I'm going out into the woods looking for little trees to cut down - and I have lots.

Your shade cloth - (where did you get it?} will deter hawks as well - I'm guessing - I use trout line strung to keep them out.

 

[Walrus Whisperer]

If you're gonna use shadecloth, get the black. The green and beige kinds are worthless for shade. The beige or green kinds are good for keeping eyes off your birds in a vertical position.

 

[sierra don]

Thank you

I ordered a draw knife 3 days ago - it should be here sometime today.

I have been using t posts and after seeing your pictures - I'm going out into the woods looking for little trees to cut down - and I have lots.

Your shade cloth - (where did you get it?} will deter hawks as well - I'm guessing - I use trout line strung to keep them out.

Having you own trees is really great to have, I have 7.25 acres with about 5 of them with different conifers and national forest on one side.

The draw knife works really easy removing the bark if the tree is a fairly fresh cut. One's that are all dried with the bark still on will skin real easy if left under the snow and rain all winter. If you have a pond or a creek I bet soaking the dry logs for a few weeks would probably do the same. It's just a bit harder to skin the dry ones.

Got it at Amazon for $30......it's actually 40% not 30. I also bought one last year for my garden.

winemana 40% Black Shade Cloth, Edge with Buttonhole, 10 x 20 ft Resistant Garden Shade Cloth with Taped Edge for Plants Greenhouse Swimming Pool (10 FT x 20 FT)
Amazon.com : winemana 40% Black Shade Cloth, Edge with Buttonhole, 10 x 20 ft Resistant Garden Shade Cloth with Taped Edge for Plants Greenhouse Swimming Pool (10 FT x 20 FT) : Garden & Outdoor

 

[Coulter]

Having you own trees is really great to have, I have 7.25 acres with about 5 of them with different conifers and national forest on one side.

The draw knife works really easy removing the bark if the tree is a fairly fresh cut. One's that are all dried with the bark still on will skin real easy if left under the snow and rain all winter. If you have a pond or a creek I bet soaking the dry logs for a few weeks would probably do the same. It's just a bit harder to skin the dry ones.

Got it at Amazon for $30......it's actually 40% not 30. I also bought one last year for my garden.

winemana 40% Black Shade Cloth, Edge with Buttonhole, 10 x 20 ft Resistant Garden Shade Cloth with Taped Edge for Plants Greenhouse Swimming Pool (10 FT x 20 FT)
Amazon.com : winemana 40% Black Shade Cloth, Edge with Buttonhole, 10 x 20 ft Resistant Garden Shade Cloth with Taped Edge for Plants Greenhouse Swimming Pool (10 FT x 20 FT) : Garden & Outdoor

I didn't even know they made a shade cloth - I'm glad I ask you about it - thanks